STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5206
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sens. SKOUFIS, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring screening
for dyslexia and providing for intervention services for dyslexic
children
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 4407-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 4407-a. Mandatory early screening and special provisions relating to
4 instruction of children with dyslexia or other phonological differences
5 or disabilities. 1. All school districts shall be required to conduct
6 full and individual screenings in accordance with this section for
7 purposes of early identification, support, intervention and accommo-
8 dation of children with dyslexia. For the purposes of this section,
9 "dyslexia" shall mean dyslexia or any other phonological learning
10 difference or disability.
11 2. Mandatory early screening for dyslexia shall be conducted by each
12 school district using a screening program that is: (a) evidence based
13 with proven psychometrics for validity; (b) efficient and low cost; and
14 (c) readily available. Mandatory early screening shall commence during
15 kindergarten and shall continue thereafter on an annual basis until such
16 child has successfully completed the second grade.
17 3. All school districts shall provide intervention services for any
18 student who is identified as having dyslexia. Such intervention services
19 shall be small group instruction in multi-sensory sequential phonics or
20 another approved curriculum for children identified to be at risk of
21 being dyslexic, which shall be taught in addition to any other instruc-
22 tion.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00324-01-3
